It was a typical design review meeting, but then again, nothing is typical with Al. It was about 2008. We started the meeting in a Cleveland hotel conference room after lunch. The conference style room was set up in a square to hold about 40 folks and it was filling up. I was seated next to Al, or should I say his laptop. For some reason, Al got up before the meeting started and went to the other side to engage someone in of "corrective action". At this point, being thirsty, I proceeded to pour myself a glass of water from a pitcher. Don't know how it happened, but you guessed it, I dumped the whole glass on top of his key board. He saw it happen out of the corner of his eye and needless to say, he was stunned, shocked, in disbelief!. He always told us that he keeps no paper and "if it ain't on his computer, he dosen't have it". So I'm thinking, this is not good at all Now I am really scared and try to make the best of it. So I picked the laptop up and turned it on its side and water poured out of the side compartments - and Al's watching, not saying a word - just starring! He slowly walked over, took the laptop and placed it on another table and let it dry for the rest of the day and evening. Lo and behold, it dried out and all was right with the world - his data was safe and sound! Through it all though, I must say, as many times as I have heard Al yell at me (and many others for that matter) he was like an angel through it all. To be sure, Al and I are good friends; yelling and sorting things out and having a follow-up drink afterwards was our trademark. Al and I had an understanding you see, we would never go to bed mad at one another, we always drank and made up. Waht was really neat was that Al knew the spilling of the water bothered me, and so, that bothered Al. He was so kind and forgiving through it all and that meant a lot to me. God Bless You Al Frye! Your Friend Joe Gates
